Electric sign



g wme 24, 1930. I M. N. RUSSELL ET AL ELECTRIC SIGN Filed Nov. 30, 1926 noemtoz Gite-cums Patented June 24, 1930 UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE MARK N. RUSSELL AND JOHN W. BROOKS,

OF SYRACUSE, NEW YORK, ASSIGNORS TO PASS & SEYMOUR, INCORPORATED, OF SYRACUSE, NEW YORK, A CORPORATION OF NEW YORK Application filed November 30, 1926. Serial No. 151,803.

This invention relates to electric signs and particularly to that type of receptacle adapted for electric signs.

It is a general object of the present invention to provide a novel and improved form of electric sign and receptacle attaching means.

More particularly it is an object of this invention to provide a sign receptacle which can be attached to the supporting plate of an electric sign from the rear of said plate by a single workman.

A further object of the invention consists in the provision of an electric sign in which the supporting plate is provided with an opening there thru together with a sign receptacle adapted to be mounted against the rear face of the plate and having an attaching means adapted to be passed thru the opening and engaged with the front face of the sign plate.

Other and further objects of the invention will be more apparent to those skilled in the art from a consideration of the accompanying drawing and following specification, wherein is disclosed a single exemplary embodiment of the invention with the understanding, however, that various changes may be made therein such as fall within the scope of the appended claims.

In said drawing:

Figure 1 is a face view of a portion of a sign showing a receptacle constructed according to the present invention secured thereto;

Figure 2 is an elevation of the receptacle with the plate in section showing a step in the assembly operation.

Figure 3 is a section on ure 1;

Fi re 4 is a view similar to Figure 3 but showing portions of the receptacle in central section;

Figure 5 is a section on line 5-5 of Figure 4; and

Figure 6 is a fragmentary front elevation of the receptacle showing the stud in section.

In the construction of electric signs of line 33 of Figthe type wherein the lamps are exposed on the face, it is usual to provide a sheet metal plate forming the outer covering or front of a compartment adapted to receive lamp receptacles and the necessary electric wiring. This plate is perforated or provided with an opening for each lamp and attached to the plate and behind the opening is a receptacle for the lamp base. It has been the almost universal practice heretofore to attach such receptacles to the sign plate by means of screws passing thru holes or slots in the plate and received into threaded openings in the receptacle. In sign plates of large size this requires two workmen, one to mount and hold the receptacle in osition in the rear and another at the ront to insert the screws or other fastening means. In another type of receptacle a portion of the screw shell protrudes thru the opening in the plate and receives, on the front of the plate, a threaded insulating ring which thus secures the receptacle in position. Here again two workmen are required for mounting the receptacles on large signs. The present invention contemplates the provision of a sign receptacle which may be mounted, by a single workman, from the rear in such a temporary manner that it will remain secure in position until he can reach the front of the sign plate and complete the securing, the initial temporary securing means forming a portion of the final permanent securing means.

Referring to the drawing, there is dis formed of sheet metal or the like. It is provided with a circular opening 11 somewhat larger than the size of a lamp base, it being understood that one such opening is provided for each lamp desired on the sign. The lamp receptacle comprises a base or. body 12 preferably formed of insulatin material, such as porcelain. It may be 0 any desired shape and be provided with the usual screw shell 13, center contact 14 and any means for attaching circuit wires, not shown. It has a front or plate enga 'ng face 15, adapted to abut the rear face 0 the sign plate 10, and preferably integral with the body the circular flange 16 which fits thru the opening 11 when the face 15 is engaged against the back of the sign plate. This flange prevents accidental contact between the screw base of the lamp and the metal of the sign plate and further serves to center the receptacle when it is being mounted in order that the fastening means ma more readily be inserted.

Iii the form disclosed there are two projections or extensions 17 on diametrically opposite sides of the receptacle body-and preferably formed integral therewith. One ofv these extensions is provided with a hole 18 therethru, the ends of which are counterbored and into this hole is spun or otherwise secured an internally threaded metal sleeve 19. This sleeve is adapted to receive and engage the threaded end of a screw 20 which passes thru an opening 21 in the sign plate. This opening is preferably a slot communicating with the hole 11.

If two such screws are provided they must be applied from the front while the receptacle is held in the rear and in the case of large signs thus require two workmen. In order to overcome this difficulty means are provided on the other projection 17 to temporarily hold the receptacle in position until the screw 20 can be applied. The sign plate is provided with an additional slot 22 similar to and diametrically opposite the slot 21. The projection 17 opposite to that adapted to receive the screw 20 is rovided with a bore 23 extending-from the ace 15 to the rear of the extension. The diameter of the bore is reduced near the face 15 as shown at 24, providing a shoulder at the junction of the bores 23 and 24. A stud 25 having an enlarged head 26 is adapted to slide in the bores 23 and 24 and has a sliding fit in the ortion 24. That portion of the stud in the .ore 23 is surrounded by an open coil spring 30 which bears at one end on the shoulder between the two bores and at other end on a suitable enlargement 27 of the stud so that the effect of the spring is to draw the head 26 of the stud toward the face 15.

It will be seen that if the receptacle is moved into position so that the head of the stud passes thru the opening 11 and is so moved that the shank of the stud passes into the slot 22 while the head remains on the outer face of the plate 10, that the spring will securely hold the face 15 against the back of the sign plate while the flange 16 passing thru the opening 11 will prevent any relative rotation between the receptacle and the sign plate. The attachment in this manner is so secure that a number of sockets may be mounted and even wired by the workman from the rear and later the screws 20 applied when he can move around to the front of the plate and apply them all in succession.

In order to assist in arranging the stud in thru the opening 11.

the slot 22 with the head on the outside of the si 'n plate the front face of the projection 17 is formed to a peculiar configuration as best seen in Figures 2, 3, and 5. A central rib 28 of this projection 17 has its face coextensive with the face 15 and the rib is of a idth slightly less than the width of the slot 22 in order that it may conveniently pass into such slot. The width of this rib is substantially the same as the diameter of the stud, the shank of which passes just thru the sides of the rib. On each side of the rib the projection 17 is relieved to provide the inclined planes as shown at 29.

When endeavoring to attach the receptacle to the plate, the head of the stud is passed The receptacle is then moved until the shank of the stud begins to enter the slot 22, at which time the reccp tacle should be positioned so that the faces 29 are parallel to and in contact with the back of the plate 10. A sliding movement will then cause the rib 28 to pass into the slot until its outer end stops against the end of the slot, at which time the head of the stud will be outside of the plate with the shank in the slot. This position is shown in Figure 2. By then rotating the receptacle about the stud and sliding it to force the stud further into the slot and at the same time slightly pulling outwardly on the part beyond the stud the tip end of the portion 28, which may be chamfered if desired, is released from engagement with the bottom of the slot and the stud slides into the slot and allows the flange 16 to pass into the opening 11 so that the receptacle assumes the position shown in Figures 3 and 4 and will retain this position indefinitely. To add to the security of the attachment the screw 20 may be applied from the front. When such screw is applied it will be seen that the receptacle is attached to the plate by two means, one of which formed the temporary attaching means but now forms a portion of the permanent attaching means.

While the invention has been particularly shown and described in conjunction with the metal plate of an electric sign, it is obvious that the receptacle is equally as well adapted for use with any perforated metal plate such as those occurring in certain types of electric fixtures. While the majority of these fixtures are not of sufficient size to require two workmen to apply the socket, the time saving feature of the present arrangement will be found of considerable advantage.

Having thus described the invention, what is claimed as new and desired to be secured by Letters Patent is:

,1. In an electric lamp receptacle, in combination, an insulating body, lamp contact elements within said body, a face on said body adapted to abut a thin plate, a projection on said body having a surface in substantially the same plane as said face, a stud slidable in said pro'ection andhaving a head near said face an resilient means to bias said head toward said face.

2. In an electric lamp receptacle, in combination, a body of insulating material having a face adapted to abut the back of a thin plate, lamp contacts within said body, a stud slidable in said body and having a head near said face, and resilient means to bias said head toward said face.

3. In an electric lamp receptacle, in combinat-ion, a body of insulating material having a face adapted to abut the back of a thin plate, lamp contacts within said body, a stud slidable in said body and having a head near said face, resilient means to bias said head toward said face and a screw receiving recess opening into said face.

I. In an electric sign in combination, a metal plate having an opening therethru, a receptacle having'a, flange adapted to pass thru said opening, said plate having a slot connecting with 'said opening, said receptacle having a face adapted to abut the rear of said plate when said flange passes thru said opening, a stud mounted in said receptable and having a head resiliently pressed toward said e, a portion of said face being relieved whereby said stud may be passed thru said opening and into said slot whereby together with said flange it retains said receptacle against movement from or rotation in respect to said plate.

5. In a lamp receptacle, in combination, a body of insulating material having a plate abutting face, a headed stud resiliently mounted in said body with said head near said surface, portions of said face being removed below said head.

6.- In a lamp receptacle, a body of insulating material having a face adapted to abut against the back 0 a thin plate, a stud slidable in said body, a head on said stud, spring-pressed against said face, said body being cut awa eside said stud to form surfaces inclined to said face and providing a rib between them coextensive in combination,

. with said face.

7 In a lamp receptacle, in combination, a body of insulating material havin a face adapted to abut a thin plate, a bee ed stud mounted in hole in said body the beaded end projecting through said face, adjacent said stud and facing the inner side of the head thereof inclined tosaid face, said surface merging with said face.

8. In an electric lamp receptacle ada ted to be mounted behind a thin sign plate avinga hole therein, in combintion, a body of insulating material having a recess containin 1am base receivin contacts, a face onsai b0 y adapted to abut said plate, a flange projecting from said face about the mouth of said recess and adapted to pass through said hole, therein opening into said face, a fastening means extending into said hole and having a head near said face, the undersurface of said head normally having partial engage ment with the face one of the engaging surfaces being chamfered to permit the initial entry of said plate beneath said head.

9. In an electric lamp receptacle, in combination, an insulating body, lamp contact elements within said body, a face on said body to abut a sign plate, a projection on said body having a surface in substantially the same plane as said face, a fastening means secured entirely within said projection and having a head near said surface, and means to permit the insertion of a sign plate beneath said head without first moving the head.

10. In a lamp receptacle adapted to be mounted against one face of a thin plate having a large perforation and communicating slots, in combination, a body of insulating material having a face adapted to abut the rear of said plate, a stud in said body having a head spring-pressed toward said face and adapted to pass foration and engage the front of said plate adjacent one of said slots.

11. In a lamp receptacle adapted to be mounted against one face of a thin plate having a large perforation, in combination, a body of insulating material having a face ada ted to abut the said plate, a fastenin hea resiliently biased toward said face an adapted to be passed through the perforation to engage the plate between it and said face, and means to permit the assembly of the plate and receptacle while the head 1s in its normal position.

In testimony whereof we hereunto affix our signatures.

JOHN W. BROOKS. MARK N. RUSSELL.

a surface said body having a hole,

through said per- 

